NORTHERN IRAQ: NEXT STEPS WITH TURKEY ON PKK/KADEK

S E C R E T ANKARA 005962 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2013 TAGS: PTER PREL MOPS MARR TU IZ SUBJECT: NORTHERN IRAQ: NEXT STEPS WITH TURKEY ON PKK/KADEK - GETTING AT THE LEADERSHIP REF: A. STATE 261988 ¶B. ANKARA 5919 (NODIS) ¶C. ANKARA 5745 Classified by Ambassador Eric Edelman. Reasons 1.5 b and d. Recommendation at Para 1. ¶1. (S) As we prepare for S/CT Black's visit and the next round of talks with Turkey on the PKK/KADEK presence in Iraq, Post believes we need to take into account a number of the Turkish positions expressed to DAS Pascoe on Sept. 12 (Ref B). RECOMMENDATION: To demonstrate the seriousness of the US commitment, even before military COAs are developed, we recommend Washington consider the following possible steps that we could share with the Turks as evidence of our intent to actively make good on our commitment to eliminate the PKK/KADEK from northern Iraq in the short-term: -- issue to US military units in the region names and photos of the top 32 PKK/KADEK leaders with instructions that they be apprehended if sighted (possibly with a rewards program for information leading to their capture). We should widely publicize the names of the top 32 we will be looking for; -- track the movement of these leaders so that if there is a gathering of several or more of them that we learn of in advance, we could consider a "decapitation strike;" -- immediately develop and implement a psyops campaign focused on the PKK/KADEK leadership in Iraq (including in the Makhmour Camp) but conveyed to rank and file elements as well with a firm message that the window for peaceful surrender is rapidly closing, that the US and Turkey are of one purpose in our commitment to end the threat to Turkey posed by the PKK/KADEK presence in Iraq, and that we urge them to turn themselves in now or face the very real possibility of military action against them in the near future; -- immediately hold talks with UNHCR on how to separate out the PKK/KADEK elements from the rest of the Makhmour camp population and relocate those individuals while ensuring they have no access to the camp population. The camp population would also need to have visible and credible security to protect them from reprisals should they opt to return to Turkey; and -- take diplomatic/law enforcement steps in cooperation with the GOT to seek the arrest and extradition to Turkey of PKK/KADEK leaders located in countries other than Iraq and the estimated 5 PKK/KADEK operatives said to be working in the US. ¶2. (S) The Turkish press and Turkish officials have given the Sept. 12 talks mixed reviews, with some voices saying an action plan had been agreed and others that the US is still doing nothing. Turks also continue to tie US action against PKK/KADEK to the possibility of Turkey contributing troops to a stabilization force. We look forward to S/CT's visit and hope we can move forward as aggressively and decisively as possible against this terrorist organization for the good of Iraq, Turkey and the US. ¶3. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. EDELMAN